The St. Bonaventure Bonnies 2021 season ended with 16 wins and 5 losses. Mark Schmidt led the Bonnies to win the A-10 regular season and A-10 Championship qualifying them to reach the big dance in Indianapolis. For a team with no seniors and five returning starters, there is a lot to be excited about for the 2021-22 season.
Point Guard Kyle Lofton and center Osun Osunniyi plan to accomplish even more next year. Kyle Lofton was awarded First-Team all-conference in the A-10 and Osun Osunniyi was second team and won defensive player of the year. Osunniyi ranked 9th nationally and led the A-10 with 2.84 blocks per game. Jaren Holmes was selected to the second team averaging 13.8 points per game. The Bonnies also return two big time players in Jalen Adaway and Dominick Welch. Welch has been a force defensively limiting the other team’s best players, especially in A-10 tournament play. He is also 10th all time in threes for the Bonnies heading into his senior year.
The Bonnies are losing players to the transfer portal including AJ Vasquez and Jalen Shaw. They also lost Justin Winston and Anthony Roberts during the year to the transfer portal. They have added G Quadry Adams (Wake Forest, Fr.), and F Abdoul Karim Coulibaly (Pittsburgh, Soph., 5.2 ppg). Look for Coulibaly to play a big role next year with his flexibility at power forward and center. He is excellent in guarding the pick and roll and has room to improve on his game as he is only a sophomore.
The Bonnies will have similar foes in the A-10 to compete with next year. St. Louis has starters Javonte Perkins and Yuri Collins back from last year but lose Hasahn French and Jordan Goodwin. Richmond will have two of their three best players back in Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyard. Blake Francis has yet to make decision to come back yet. VCU is their toughest opponent, assuming A-10 player of the year Bones Hylaand is back and ready to lead the league in scoring again. Davidson, Rhode Island and Dayton all lost Kellan Grady, Fatts Russel and Jalen Crutcher. These three guys were Bonnie’s killers over the years.
Stadium basketball insider, Jeff Goodman released his, “Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25 for 2021-22” rankings for next year. In his top 25 are the St. Bonaventure Bonnies at number 16 in the nation. Here is the link to the article: https://watchstadium.com/jeff-goodmans-way-too-early-preseason-top-25-for-2021-22-04-05-2021/. The season is still very far away, and the transfer portal is still open, but the Bonnies are getting some love for their great season last year.
Personally, I believe we are a top 25 team, but I believe the committee won’t rank us above teams like Michigan State, Houston or North Carolina right away. I cannot wait for next season. The Bonnies kick off their season at the Charleston Classic in November. They will be joined by West Virginia, Marquette, Temple, Boise State, and more.
Tom Doyle Blog 